Key result
AF patient education reaches ~69% of Danish outpatient sites at one year despite heterogeneous delivery.
Why the study?
Clinical guidelines recommend patient education for patients with AF as part of holistic care, but lack detailed specification on the content, structure, and delivery of AF education programmes.
Cross-Sectional (n=29)
Yes
Implementation of guideline-recommended patient education for atrial fibrillation in Denmark is heterogeneous and initially lacking in nearly half of hospitals, highlighting a gap in holistic care delivery.
AF education coverage reached 69% in Denmark with variable models; leaves open optimal standardization needs.
AIMS: Clinical practice guidelines recommend patient education for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as a part of holistic care, however, clinical guidelines lack detailed specification on the content, structure, and delivery of AF education programmes. To examine the implementation of education for patients with AF in Denmark in relation to coverage, organization, and content. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to May 2021. The survey contained questions on the organization, delivery, and content of education for patients with AF from all 29 AF outpatient hospital sites in Denmark. The survey was conducted by email and telephone. One-year follow-up was done in May 2022 by email. Patient education was provided by healthcare professionals in 16 (55%) hospitals. Nurse workforce issues, management, non-prioritization, and lack of guidance for implementation were reasons for the absence of patient education in 13 (45%) hospitals. The structure of patient education differed in relation to group or individual teaching methods and six different education models were used. Content of the AF disease education was generally similar. At 1-year follow-up, another four hospitals reported offering patient education (69% in total). CONCLUSION: Initially, almost half of the hospitals did not provide patient education, but at 1-year follow-up, 69% of hospitals delivered patient education. Patient education was heterogeneous in relation to delivery, frequency, and duration. Future research should address individualized patient education that may demonstrate superiority in relation to quality of life, less hospital admissions, and increased longevity.
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Qvist et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Atrial fibrillation (n=29). Patient education programs was evaluated on Provision of patient education. Patient education for atrial fibrillation was initially provided in 55% of Danish outpatient hospital sites, increasing to 69% at 1-year follow-up, with heterogeneous delivery and structure.